Portable folding table



Feb. 21, 1967 1. B. RACHMAN PORTABLE FOLDING TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17, 1965 bill/1070 ISA DORE B RAcHMAN Feb. 21, 1967 B. RACHMAN PORTABLE FOLDING TABLE Filed May 17 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Feb. 21, 1967 B RACHMAN 3,304,891

PORTABLE FOLD I NG TABLE Filed May 17, 1965 5 $heets$heet 5 3y ISADORE B. RACHMAN 5% F 12. ,3,

United States Patent 3,304,891 PORTABLE FOLDING TABLE Isadore B. Rachman, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Metal Dynamics Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May 17, 1965, Ser. No. 456,442 12 Claims. (Cl. 108-36) This invention relates generally to portable tables, and in particular, to an improved sturdy and rigid folding table.

Portable tables in the past, in general, have been flimsy, wobbly and unable to support any appreciable amount of weight. Folding tables in the past have exhibited a tendency to jam and have not been able to withstand the rigors and abuses of normal usage. Now chaplains are in need of a portable folding table which may be utilized as a field altar. Of course, the chaplains portable table, or field altar, must be lightweight, sturdy and steady. Furthermore, it must be tall enough for utilization as an altar and foldable into a compact portable unit which is self-contained to eliminate misplacement or" any table components. Such a table, naturally, would have many other applications.

Therefore, to overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of the prior art, a general object of this invention is to provide a new and better folding table.

It is an object of this invention to provide a portable folding table which is strong, sturdy and able to support an appreciable Weight.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable folding table which may be locked into a rigid open position.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a portable folding table which is of rugged construction able to withstand the rigors of usage under severe conditions.

Another object is the provision of a portable folding table which may be extended to a tall height and also foldable to present a compact, self-contained unit which eliminates misplacement of table components.

A further object is to provide a portable folding table which is economical to produce, utilizing conventional, currently available materials that lend themselves to standard mass production manufacturing techniques.

Other objects will be apparent hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the invented table folded into a self-contained compact unit.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the table partially unfolded and assembled.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial cross section of a portion of FIGURE 2 taken along line 3-3.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial view of FIGURE 2 showing the leg in a folded position.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line s s of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged side view of FIGURE 3 taken in the direction of the arrows of line 7-7.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of FIGURE 8 taken along line 9-9.

FIGURE 10 is a side view showing the components of FIGURE 7 in an alternate position.

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged cross section along line 12-12 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged side view of a portion of FIGURE 4 taken in the direction of line 13-13 and showing a folded knee joint.

FIGURE 14 is a side view of the knee joint of FIG- URE 13 is a partially unfolded position.

FIGURE 15 is a side view showing the knee joint of FIGURE 13 in a fully open position.

FIGURE 16 is a cross-sectional View taken along line 16-16 of FIGURE 15.

FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of the invented portable folding table in an unfolded, assembled and upright position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a drawing of a folded portable table of the present invention designated generally as 10. The table 10 has a top formed by the abutting demi-sections 12 and 13 which are identical mirror images adapted to be folded into the parallel relationship shown in FIGURE 1. A strap 18, provided with a conventional snap fastener, may be utilized to hold the sections 12, 13 in a compact portable unit. A carrying handle 16 is provided on the demisection 12, as illustrated.

The demi-sections 12 and 13 are fabricated from a lightweight, strong material such as sheet aluminum or steel which is bent to form peripheral border flanges 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, respectively. A reinforcement flange 30, 31 is provided by a steel strap extending along the inside peripheries of the afore-mentioned border flanges in each demi-section 12. 13. The reinforcement flanges 30, 31 include short portions 32, 33 spaced from the border flanges 22, 23, 24, 25, respectively, on each side of the sections 12 and 13, as illustrated. Notice that spaced portions 32, 33 are located nearest the end flanges 26, 27 of each section 12, 13. The end flanges 26 and 27 include the flanges 28 and 29 for additional strength at the ends of the table. The reinforcement flanges 30, 31 continue along the peripheral end flanges 26, 27 under the flanges 28, 29 as is best illustrated in FIGURE 5.

With reference to FIGURE 6, the peripheral border flanges 20, 21 are coupled together in assembled relationship by means of a hinge 35. Rivets 36, 37 pass through the hinge 35, the reinforcement flanges 30, 31 and the abutting flanges 20, 21 to provide a permanent and sturdy connection, as shown. A superior hinge fastening is provided by extending the hinge 35 along the entire length of the reinforcement flanges 30, 31 at the abutting flanges 21, 21, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. Thus, when the sections 12, 13 are opened and unfolded to a co-planar alignment, they form a solid and steady table top.

The table top is rigidly held in its unfolded position by means of bars 50, 51 extending through sideways provided by channels 40, 41, 42 and 43 between the sections 12 and 13. The bars and slideways at both sides of the sections are identical, therefore only one side will be described in detail with reference to FIGURES 7 through 12. The channel 40 is provided at one side of the section 12 at the outside of border flange 22 which is normal to the flange 20. Rivets 46 pass through the channel 40, border flange 22 and reinforcement flange 30 to attain a secure fastening thereon. The channel 41 is similarly fastened by means of rivets 47 on the section 13 and adapted to be aligned with channel 40 (see FIGURE 8). The channels 40, 41 are discontinued over the ends 3 of the abutting flanges 20, 21 as shown, to permit a folding of the sections 12, 13 about hinge 35.

A bar 50 is slidably engaged within the channel 40, as shown in FIGURES 7 through 9. The sliding bar 50 has an inclined surface 53 at one end and thumb tab 54 at the remaining end. Locking holes 57, 58 are provided at spaced intervals along the bar 50. The bar 50 may be locked at an extended and retracted position by means of a plunger 60 which extends through the flanges 22, 30 and into one of the holes 57, 58 of bar 50. The plunger 60 is biased outward into the holes 57, 58 by the spring 65. A handle 62 is provided for the removal of plunger 60 from the holes 57, 58.

The slide bar 50 may be extended to the right and into the channel 41, as illustrated in FIGURES through 12. A cam head 70 is provided to engage the inclined surface 53 of bar 50. As is best seen in FIGURE 12, the cam head 70 is affixed to a threaded rod 74 having a thumb handle at 75. The rod 74 is threaded through the flanges 23, 31 so that the cam head 70 may be tightened against the inclined surface 53 by turning the handle 75.

A fabric drop cloth, such as an altar cover, may be affixed along the border flanges by means of spaced snap fasteners 80. One of these snap fasteners 83 may be provided at positions on either side of the section 12 to provide an outward stop for the bars 50, 51. Additional rivets 85 are utilized to aflix the reinforcement flanges 30, 31 to their respective border flanges.

Rectangular leg frameworks 90, 91 are provided by the legs 92, 93, top transverse rods 94, 95 and the bottom transverse rods 96, 97 As illustrated, the top transverse rods 94, 95 extend all the way through the legs 92, 93 for engagement in pivot holes provided in the spaced portions 32, 33 of the reinforcement flanges 30, 31. Knee brackets 100 are provided between the frames 90, 91 and the reinforcement flanges 30, 31 to hold the legs 92, 93 in an upright position. As shown, the knee brackets are pivoted on each side of the brackets 90, 91 at a pivot 104. The remaining end of the knee brackets 100 carry a pivot rod 102 which is received in a pivot hole provided in the spaced portions 32, 33 of the reinforcement flanges 30, 31. Notice that the pivot holes provided in the spaced portion 32, 33 are relatively large to provide a strong pivot joint in conjunction with the transverse rods 94, 95 and the pivot rods 102. The brackets 100 have a central knee pivot 103, which is shown in greater detail in FIGURES 13 through 15. The brackets 100 are prevented from pivoting beyond an extended position by means of a stop notch 105 and a stop tab 106. The brackets 100 are shown in the folded position in FIGURES 4 and 13. The brackets 100 may be unfolded (FIGURE 14) and extended to the position shown at FIGURES and 16 with the stop tab 106 engaged in the stop notch 105. Lock holes 107 are provided in the brackets 100 to receive the plunger 108 which is biased by a spring 110. Knob 109 is provided for lifting the plunger 108 against the bias of spring 110 to remove the plunger 108 from the locking hole 107.

Extension legs 115 are provided by hollow tubes each having a bayonet slot 117 at one end thereof. The bayonet slot is of a size accommodating the bottom transverse rods 96, 97. The bottom ends of the extension legs 115 are provided with rubber tips 116. As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the extension legs 115 may be supported on the top transverse rods 94 for storage within the section 12 by means of the storage straps 119. A storage bag 120 is hung on the opposite top transverse rod 95 for the storage of the fabric drop cloth and other paraphernalia While assisting to balance the table with respect to the handle 16.

The table 10 may be transported as a folded compact unit shown in FIGURE 1. It may be opened by unfastening the strap 18 and unfolding the demi-sections 12, 13 to a co-planar alignment shown in FIGURE 2 with the table in an upside down position. The bars 50, 51 are released from their retracted position by pulling inward on the knobs 62 to remove the plunger against the bias of spring from the lock hole 58. The snap fasteners 83 prevent the bars 50, 51 from being pulled out of the channels 40, 42. The bars 50, 51 are extended into the channels 41, 43 by grasping the thumb tabs 54 and sliding the bars 50 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 10. The thumb tabs 54 prevent the bars 50, 51 from being passed all the way through the channels. The spring biased plunger 60 will engage the lock hole 57 to lock the bars 50, 51 at an extended position. Turning the handles will tighten the cam head 70 against the inclined surfaces 53 of bars 50, 51 to jam them within the channels. This assures there will be no movement between the bars and their respective channels. The leg frames are swung into their upright position with the knee brackets fully extended. The knee brackets 100 will be locked in position by the plungers 108 and the lock holes 107. The hanger straps 119 are unfastened for access to the extension legs 115. The tubular extension legs are telescoped over the ends of the extended legs 92, 93. The bayonet slots 117 are slid downward over the transvers bottom rods 96, 97 and the extensions 115 are turned to lock them in place. Table may then be turned over in the upright position shown in FIGURE 17. A drop cloth in removed from bag 120 and fastened along the border flanges by means of snap fasteners 83 and 80. The table is now ready for use and is adapted to support a weight of pounds without buckling or collapsing.

To dismantle the table, it is again turned over and placed with the demi-sections 12, 13 flat on the ground. The drop cloth 87 and leg extensions 115 are removed and secured in the respective strap hangers 119 and bag 120. Knee brackets 100 are released by pulling outward on knobs 109 and folded to collapse the leg frameworks 90, 91 within the demi-sections 12,13. The cams 70 are loosened by turning the handle 75 and the bars 50, 51 are released by pulling the knob 62 inward to withdraw the plunger 60. The bars 50, 51 are withdrawn to a retracted position and locked thereat by plungers 60 which projec tinto the lock holes 58. The demi-sections 12, 13 may then be folded to the parallel relationship shown in FIGURE 1. The fastener snap 18 is aflixed and the table is folded into a compact unit which may be carried by means of the handle 16.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A portable collapsible folding table comprising: a rectangular top divided into a pair of abutting demi-sections each having peripheral border flanges; reinforcement flanges affixed to said border flanges along inside periphery thereof; a hinge connecting said demi-sections at juxtaposed border flanges, said hinge extending along substantially the entire length of said juxtaposed border flanges, said hinge being fastened to each juxtaposed border flange and its respective reinforcement flange; a pair of slideways on each of said sections, a rigid bar slidably received by slideways on each of said sections for extension therealong between said sections to rigidly fasten said sections in coplanar alignment; lock means on one of said sections for locking said bars when the sections are in co-planar alignment; cam means supported by one of said sections for cooperation between said bars and slideways for jamming said bars into a rigid and locked position; a pair of collapsible legs pivoted in each of said sections on said reinforcement flanges so that said legs may be collapsed within said sections to effect a parallel folding thereof, said slideways being channels, and said bars having an.

inclined surface at one end thereof for cooperation with said cam means.

2. A portable folding table in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bars each have a pair of spaced holes therethrough, and said lock means being spring biased plungers passing through border and reinforcement flanges for engagement in said holes to lock said bars in a desired position thereof.

3. A portable folding table in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cam means are threaded rods extending through said channels, border and reinforcement flanges, said rods having a turning handle on one end, and a camming head at an opposite end of said rods for engagement with said inclined surface of said bars.

4. A portable folding table in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bars have thumb tabs protruding outward away from said border flanges, said tabs cooperating with said channels to prevent said bars from sliding completely through said channels.

5. A portable folding table in accordance with claim 1 including a plurality of snap fastenings along said peripheral border for a fabric drop covering, two of said snap fastenings being positioned to also serve as outward limit stops for said bars.

6. A portable folding table comprising: a rectangular top dividing into a pair of abutting demi-sections both having peripheral border flanges; reinforcement flanges affixed to said border flanges along an inside periphery thereof, said reinforcement flanges including portions spaced from said border flanges at opposite sides of said sections, said spaced portions having pivot 'holes therethrough; a hinge connecting said demi-sections at abutting border flanges for, alternatively, a parallel folding in a coplanar alignment of said sections, said hinge continuing along length of said reinforcement flanges at said abutting border flanges, and said hinge being fastened thereon through both said abutting and reinforcement flanges; a pair of slideways on both sides of said table at both of said sections on border flanges normal to said abutting flanges at both ends thereof, said-slideways discontinued over said ends of said abutting flanges and fastened thereon through both said border and reinforcement flanges; a pair of rigid bars slidably received by said slideways for extension therealong between said sections to rigidly fasten said sections at said coplanar alignment; lock means for locking said bar at said extension; cam means between said bars and slideways for jamming bars at a rigid and locked extension; a pair of rectangular leg frameworks each providing a set of legs spaced apart at top and bottom by transverse rods extending into said legs, said top transverse rods extending through said legs into said pivot holes in said spaced portions of said reinforcement flanges so said legs may be collapsed in said sections within said flanges; and extendable means pivoted between said legs and reinforcement flanges for holding said legs at an upright position.

7. A portable folding table according to claim 6 wherein said spaced portions of said reinforcement flanges include leg portions spaced apart from bracket portions at each of said opposite sides normal to said abutting flanges and spaced proximte ends of said table opposite said abutting flanges, and said extendable means being knee brackets pivoted between said legs and said holes of said bracket portions, said bracketsincluding stops and lock means to hold them at an extended position.

8. A portable folding table comprising: a rectangular top divided into a pair of demi-sections each having peripheral border flanges; reinforcement flanges aflixed to said border flanges along an inside periphery thereof, a hinge connecting said demi-sections along juxtaposed border flanges for facilitating movement of the sections between a parallel folding and a co-planar alignment of said sections; a slideway on each of said sections on border flanges normal to said juxtaposed border flanges, a rigid bar slidably received by each slideway for extension therealong between said sections to rigidly fasten said sections to said co-planar alignment; said reinforcement flanges including a pair of portions spaced from said border flanges at opposite sides of each of said sections, said spaced pair of portions including leg portions spaced apart from bracket portion at each of said opposite sides normal to said abutting flanges and spaced at approximate ends of said table opposite said abutting flanges, said leg portions and said bracket portions have pivot holes therethrough, a pair of rectangular leg frameworks each providing a set of legs spaced apart by transversed rods extending into said legs, one of said rod and each of said frameworks extending through said legs and into the pivot holes in said leg portions, one of said pair of rectangular leg frameworks disposed in each of said sections so that said frameworks may be collapsed into said sections within said flanges, extendable means pivoted between said legs and reinforcement flanges for holding said legs in an upright position, said extendable means being knee brackets pivoted between said legs and said pivot holes of said bracket portions, said knee brackets including stops and lock means to hold them at an extended position.

9. A portable folding table in accordance with claim 8 including carrying straps and a carrying bag hung on said top transverse rods for storage of items within said sections and said flanges upon a parallel folding of said sections.

10. A portable folding table in accordance with claim 8 wherein said slideways are channels containing said bars and said bars have an inclined surface at one end for cooperation with said cam means.

11. A portable fold-ing table in accordance with claim 8 including a plurality of snap fastenings along said peripheral border for a fabric drop cloth therealong, two of said fastenings positioned to also serve as outward limit stops for said bars, and said hinge, channels and snap fastenings all fastened through both said border and reinforcement flanges to thereby fasten said table together in a rigid unit.

:12. A portable collapsible folding table comprising a rectangular top divided into a pair of abutting demi-sections each having peripheral border flanges; a hinge connecting said demi-sections along juxtaposed border flanges, said hinge extending along substantially the entire length of said juxtaposed border flanges, said hinge being fastened to each juxtaposed flange, aligned slideways on each of said sections on border flanges normal to said abutting juxtaposed flanges, a rigid bar slidably received by said aligned slideways for extension therebetween to rigidly fasten said sections in co-planar alignment; lock means on one of said sections for locking said bar when the sections are in co-planar alignment; cam means supported by one of said demi-sections for cooperation with said bar and aligned slideways for forcing said bar into a rigid and locked position; and a pair of collapsible legs pivoted on each of said sections so that said legs may be collapsed within said sect-ions to enable a parallel folding of said sections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,181,320 5/1916 Korn 10 8-36 1,792,714 2/1931 Shields 108-35 2,618,524 1 1/1952 Hoffman 10836 2,643,926 6/ 1953 Pucci 10 836 X 2,652,300 9/1953 Garber et al. -10893 2,747,956 5/ 1956 Leichter l0 8'36 2,747,957 5/ 1956 Glencioni 108-36 2,760,837 8/1956 Wade 10 8-36 2,871,076 1/ 1-959 Mell 10836 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE FOLDING TABLE COMPRISING: A RECTANGULAR TOP DIVIDED INTO A PAIR OF ABUTTING DEMI-SECTIONS EACH HAVING PERIPHERAL BORDER FLANGES; REINFORCEMENT FLANGES AFFIXED TO SAID BORDER FLANGES ALONG INSIDE PERIPHERY THEREOF; A HINGE CONNECTING SAID DEMI-SECTIONS AT JUXTAPOSED BORDER FLANGES, SAID HINGE EXTENDING ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF SAID JUXTAPOSED BORDER FLANGES, SAID HINGE BEING FASTENED TO EACH JUXTAPOSED BORDER FLANGES, AND ITS RESPECTIVE REINFORCEMENT FLANGE; A PAIR OF SLIDEWAYS ON EACH OF SAID SECTIONS, A RIGID BAR SLIDABLY RECEIVED BY SLIDEWAYS ON EACH OF SAID SECTIONS FOR EXTENSION THEREALONG BETWEEN SAID SECTIONS TO RIGIDLY FASTEN SAID SECTIONS IN COPLANAR ALIGNMENT; LOCK MEANS ON ONE OF SAID SECTIONS FOR LOCKING SAID BARS WHEN THE SECTIONS ARE IN CO-PLANAR ALIGNMENT; CAM MEANS SUPPORTED BY ONE OF SAID SECTIONS FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN SAID BARS AND SLIDEWAYS FOR JAMMING SAID BARS INTO A RIGID AND LOCKED POSITION; A PAIR OF COLLAPSIBLE LEGS PIVOTED IN EACH OF SAID SECTIONS ON SAID REINFORCEMENT FLANGES SO THAT SAID LEGS MAY BE COLLAPSED WITHIN SAID SECTIONS TO EFFECT A PARALLEL FOLDING THEREOF, SAID SLIDEWAYS BEING CHANNELS, AND SAID BARS HAVING AN INCLINED SURFACE AT ONE END THEREOF FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID CAM MEANS. 